Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi 13th Century	About Jelaluddin Rumi Timeline (1207 - 1273)
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English version by Coleman Barks Original Language Persian/Farsi	[1127] I drink streamwater and the air
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Wine           Recommended Books Delicious Laughter: Rambunctious Teaching Stories from the Mathnawi of Jelaluddin Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks East Window: Poems from Asia, Translated by W. S. Merwin The Essential Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated by Coleman Barks Holy Fire: Nine Visionary Poets and the Quest for Enlightenment, Edited by Daniel Halpern More >>	I drink streamwater and the air becomes clearer and everything I do. I become a waterwheel, turning and tasting you, as long as water moves.     -- from Open Secret: Versions of Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks / Translated by John Moyne Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

The water is the flow of divine energy. Everyone receives this in a trickle, but in the sacred experience the mystic receives this as a powerful stream.

In this state, you recognize that it is this flow of the Divine that animates us, that gives us life. What we think of as the individual self moves and acts only because it is moved and acted upon by the divine stream. We are simply the waterwheel.

We are moved by this flow, but we also drink it. Mystics often experience this bliss energy as having a taste, sweet and nourishing. Nectar, honey, wine...

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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